Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Religious Studies Major with Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Major


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Students majoring in religious studies complete 36 hours in courses in the department. The major program includes courses in global religious traditions, spirituality in practice and reflection, sacred words and images, religion and society, and interfaith studies, dialogue and experience.

The goal is for religious studies majors to develop mastery in the field of religious studies. “Mastery” is understood to mean the acquisition, synthesis, and communication (oral and written) of knowledge about religion in general as well as about specific religious traditions (hereafter indicated as “religion(s)”).

Specific objectives for students who graduate with a major in religious studies:

  1. Students will be able to identify and interpret religious and spiritual beliefs and practices as formed by diverse populations and cultures over time.
  2. Students will be able to identify and make use of major interdisciplinary theories, methods and concepts employed in the academic study of religion.
  3. Students will acquire skills needed for research, data interpretation, analysis of problems, critical thinking and communication regarding religion.
  4. Students will be able to analyze the role of religion in creating and ameliorating power dynamics intrinsic to social issues such as racism, sexism, economic disparity, and environmental destruction .
  5. Students will be able to demonstrate interfaith and intercultural competencies that enable informed empathy with different perspectives and diverse populations globally and locally.

Students seeking initial certification at the early childhood and childhood levels may double major in Religious Studies and Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education. Students in this double major are required to have a minimum overall GPA of 2.7 before moving into INCH coursework which typically begins fall semester of the junior year.

Core Curriculum Requirements


All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures  for specific core curriculum requirements. 

Religious Studies Core


Students majoring in Religious Studies must complete 36 credits in courses in the department from the following areas.

Foundation Course


Students must take the following course:

Spirituality in Practice and Reflection


Students must take one course in Spirituality in Practice and Reflection from the following list:

Sacred Words and Images


Students must take one course in Sacred Words and Images from the following list:

Junior - Senior Seminar


Students must take the following Junior - Senior Seminar:

Additional Elective Courses and Opportunities


Students are required to complete 1-3 courses to complete a total of 36 credits in Religious Studies. Courses may come from any of the categories above or from these additional courses.

Required Courses for Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Majors


Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Major Requirements

Religious Studies Senior Experience


Students must complete the following Senior Experience:

Sample Program for Religious Studies Major with Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education


FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
ACS 101 Academic and College Success   1 ENGW 102 Argument and Research   3
RES.F 101 Exploring Religion  First Year Seminar/FYS PEQ (1) 3 Foreign Language (2) with lab 4
Foreign Language (1) with lab 4 Religious Studies course (2) 3
ENGW 101 Exposition   3 PEQ (4) 3
PEQ (2) 3 PEQ (5) 3
PEQ (3) 3    
Health and Wellness 0    
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 17 TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 16
 
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
PEQ (6) - Science with lab 4 PEQ (8) 3
PEQ (7) 3 SPF 204 History and Philosophy of Education   3
Religious Studies course (3) 3 Religious Studies course (5) 3
Religious Studies course (4) 3 Religious Studies course (6) 3
Integrative Studies (IS) - 1
*must be Liberal Arts course
3 Integrative Studies (IS) - 2
*must be Liberal Arts course
3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 16 TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 15
 
JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
RES 399 Junior-Senior Seminar in Religious Studies  (7) 3 INCH 380 Construction of Meaning in Mathematics And Science   3
INCH 310 Differentiated Planning and Assessment For Diverse Learners   3 INCH 390 Literacy, Language Arts, and Social Studies   3
INCH 320 Emergent Literacy and Language Development   3 Religious Studies course (9) 3
Religious Studies course (8) 3 Religious Studies course (10) 3
Integrative Studies (IS) - 3
*must be Liberal Arts course
3 Religious Studies course (11) 3
EDU 475 Health Education, Child Abuse, and Violence Prevention Workshop   0 EDU 485 Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Discrimination in Schools: Prevention and Intervention (DASA Training)   0
    CME 050 Core Milestone Experience   0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 15 TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 13
 
SUMMER AFTER JUNIOR YEAR
(Summer Tuition Required)
INCH 410 Diversity and Inclusion for Inclusive Early Childhood and Childhood Classrooms    3 INCH 411 Field Work and Practicum in Inclusive Education Settings   3
 
SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
INCH 425 Designing and Implementing Positive Learning Communities        3 Religious Studies course (12) 3
INCH 435 Assessment for Learning   3 INCH 490 Current Issues in Inclusive Education   3
INCH 470 Reflective Seminar on Teaching, Collaboration and Building Collaborative Partnerships   3 INCH 499 Inclusive Education Portfolio Presentation   3
INCH 480 Student Teaching   6 RES 499 Religious Studies Comprehensive   0
    Math or Science Elective 3
    Liberal Arts Elective 3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 15 TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 15

Notes

  • Students in Bachelor of Arts degree programs must complete 90 credits of liberal arts coursework.
  • Students in the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education major must complete 10 credits of math and science coursework.
  • Students may use a major course to fulfill one Integrative Studies (IS) course requirement.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.7 is required before moving into INCH coursework (fall semester, junior year).

 

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